Short hike today with my Fiddleback Machete...

Fletcher Knives

STEEL BREATHING BLADE MAESTRO
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I decided to take a little walk through the woods today with my 12" Fiddleback Forge machete.


Here's the pack I use for short days and the junk I took with me today. (picture taken with the new camera)


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I took the first few of these with the old camera so that I could show the new camera.


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Here's the old camera. I decided to take it with me and just keep it stuffed in my front pocket in case. I don't know why. I only took it out once, to take a picture just to show how much better the new camera is. If you're wondering what the scotch tape over the flash is for, it's because the flash is too bright for that camera and there's no way to adjust the flash brightness because that camera sucks. (back to using the new camera. yay!)


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This is what it looks like all packed up and ready to go. Carrying a machete this size is a snap. The sheath slides down nicely into the section of the pack that's supposed to hold the camelback bladder and the large Tec-Loc hangs onto the strap. I can put the machete into action fast because I can snatch the machete out without taking the pack off. This pack and machete size combo is very handy.


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and of course, this is the machete I was taking with me today. This is actually one of the first test batch that Andy put together. I made the sheath for it so he could carry it around Blade Show easily, and I haven't stopped badgering him to give me the whole rig ever since. Finally a couple of weeks ago, he broke down and gave it to me to shut me up.


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All strapped up in the woods.


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Here's the picture I was talking about, that I took just to show how crappy the old camera was and how awesome the new camera is.

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This is a nice little stream that winds through. It's the popular happy hour spot for most of the animals around here.


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Some glamour shots of the Bush Operator. I didn't actually end up using it today... but it sure does look cool.


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Have you ever wondered where all those balloons end up that flew away when you accidentally let go of the string when you were a kid? Well all of them apparently ended up in the woods by my house. This is one of several I found in the woods today.


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Back to walkin'.
There are several old, falling apart tree stands out here. At one point, all of this was prime hunting land. Now that the city has built up all around it, it's too close to everything to safely hunt, so all the old stands and stuff has just been abandoned and left to rot.


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Interestingly enough, the stump I was using to steady my camera for one of those shots was some good old fatwood.


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Another sign of man not giving a shit...


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There are fatwood stumps EVERYWHERE out here. If anyone local ever wants some fatwood, just swing by and I'll show you right where it is.


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Here is another abandoned tree stand.


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And on my way over to take a closer look... another fatwood stump.


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Now I will admit that while I don't agree with leaving a bunch of crap out in the woods instead of dealing with it properly, I do find some useful junk out there from time to time. This is my usual sitdown spot. A few years ago, I found this chair out here in the woods and got this camo screen down from one of the tree stands. Since no one ever comes out here but me anymore, I'm not really worried about anyone stealing my chair, but just in case, I use the screen to keep it hidden. You never know. Some dickhead teenagers might stumble across it and break it or something just because that's the kind of mindless stuff that dumbass teenagers do.


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I did actually use the machete a lot while I was out today, mostly just to cut briars and limbs away, but I only got a few pictures of actual usage. Here I was cutting a good piece of new walking stick. This machete bites plenty deep.


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Here's another one of your lost balloons.


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So that was it.
 
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Nice. So I guess you are making sheaths for the 12 inchers now, that's good to know. I'm gonna need 3! ;)
 
I want that machete! I'm diggin that knife too! The Bush Operator? Looks like a sweet pair and a nice hike. Thanks for the pics.
 
Nice. So I guess you are making sheaths for the 12 inchers now, that's good to know. I'm gonna need 3! ;)

Cool deal! When you place your order with Andy for the machete, go ahead and paypal me $70 per sheath!
 
Oh here we go with another with a fiddleback machete. You and mistwalker should get together and Machete fight. Sorta like sword fighting they do in San fan. lol lol lol :) :)
 
I really don't want to buy one of these machetes (don't really need another machete :o) but my resistance is breaking down quick.
 
Cool pics bro, looks like you're enjoying the new camera. Hey at least that roasting pan could be used in a survival situation...better than all the plastic crap thrown out. That Operator looks really sweet. That machete handles well doesn't it?


Oh here we go with another with a fiddleback machete. You and mistwalker should get together and Machete fight. Sorta like sword fighting they do in San fan. lol lol lol :) :)


I was thinking more along the lines of getting together and going camping...I'm hoping my machete fighting days are over lol. Besides, you just want us to fight 'cause your mad you don't have one of these awesome machetes yet :p
 
Cool pics bro, looks like you're enjoying the new camera. Hey at least that roasting pan could be used in a survival situation...better than all the plastic crap thrown out. That Operator looks really sweet. That machete handles well doesn't it?

Yeah bro. This thing rocks the house. When he got that first batch of prototypes, I tested it out and I knew that these machetes were going to be awesome.



Besides, you just want us to fight 'cause your mad you don't have one of these awesome machetes yet :p

word.
 
Yeah bro. This thing rocks the house. When he got that first batch of prototypes, I tested it out and I knew that these machetes were going to be awesome.


Really awesome. I used mine early to process some Yucca I was allowed to harvest from someones lawn-scape. I got twelve stalks in all...pretty cool stuff...and I used the machete to trim some down and whittle out a couple of fire-bow-sized spindles. I have a feeling the top tips of them will be too soft to work very effectively with a bearing block...and I saved the straightest and smallest stalks for giving the hand drill a go...but I still want to give it a shot. I also used the machete to shape another hearth board out of a Poplar branch, I really love how this thing handles. I found some Basswood trees on my own property...that was hilarious...so I am going to harvest a little of that later in the winter and try a Basswood hearth and Yucca spindle for the bow drill. That'll be another good machete project.
 
Those are some nice Photos , Dylan you should cut up some fat wood and package it . Im sure you could sell some of the forum for fire starter .
 
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